Perino, who grew up in Colorado, served as the White House deputy press secretary from 2005 to 2007, when President Bush named her his press secretary and assistant.

Perino on Frazier: He’s a true conservative who will stick to the principles of fiscal responsibility that made the Republican Party great.”
Frazier on Perino: “She’s seen firsthand how broken our political system is in Washington.”

Fiscally conservative? A number of Republicans on the campaign trail are only too happy to point out Republicans haven’t been fiscally conservative. And when Frazier is talking about this broken system Perino has witnessed first hand, I couldn’t help but think of the auto bailouts pushed by President Bush. Was Perino talking about Bush? I wondered.

I asked Perino to weigh in. Here’s what she told me, via e-mail:

On the broken system: Does anyone really think Washington is working? Everyone, always, campaigns for change in Washington. President Obama’s idea for change wasn’t new. Every single candidate always says they will work to fix the status quo. For example, could President Bush get members to think strategically and work together on Social Security and immigration reform?

On fiscal responsibility: I think all Republicans have said we could have done more to curb spending – I don’t apologize for spending the money necessary to put our country on a war footing after 9/11 and to replenish DOD after the cuts it suffered in the 1990s.

But should we have vetoed the farm bill in the first term to send a message? Yes.

While congress met Bush’s overall number, it turned everything inside out for pork barrel projects. Same with the transportation bill. Discretionary spending was held under 2.9 percent the last 5 years of the presidency – you can’t say the same today after Obama’s budget, especially after healthcare which cbo tells us gets more expensive by the day. All of us need to eat some spinach so we can avoid becoming like Greece.

The front page Washington Post story this morning ascribes the change to mounting pressure from both Democrats and Republicans. Is the president really going to give in that easily for political reasons?

What happened to using the civilian system to show the world how this country respects the rule of law? If the administration changes course to curry favor in the political arena, it would be vastly disappointing.

Of course, there has been no shortage of pressure for him to do so. A New York Times editorial today speaks to inappropriate efforts to force the trial into the military tribunal system and the ripple effects that would have. Read more…

We ought to be more humane when it comes to our politics, at least on those occasions when doing so costs so little of us.

Or maybe I’m just full of weepy goodwill after seeing Loretta Lynn sing in Denver last night.

The Denver Post editorial page gave guarded, minimal props last week to former Vice President Dick Cheney following his reasonable and humane statements about gays and gay marriage.

We also gave similarly guarded praise to the former veep for his admission that the Bush administration had no real evidence connecting Iraq to 9/11.

Though we dinged Cheney for waiting eight years to come out as a reasonable guy, and we took pains to point out his statements didn’t erase our negative views about his endorsement of such things as so-called enhanced interrogation techniques, some reaction has been markedly uncharitable.

One commenter said Cheney was “Satan’s right hand guy.”

Others said he should never get any slack – ever!

Cheney often filled me with fear and loathing during the failed prior administration. Not at all originally, I often referred to him as Dr. Strangelove.

But Cheney’s support of his gay daughter and of gays in general who wish to marry is worthy of at least a polite nod.

Here’s a shout-out to the haters: That’s the plain truth!

What does it hurt to admit that?

The progressives won. What do they have to worry about now? Cheney’s not presently a threat to them.

Screaming at bested opponents, heaping scorn and derision on them even when they make a bit of sense, only makes those doing the screaming look like terribly sore winners.

Further, the behavior risks losing moderates and independents who otherwise might want to see it your way now that you’re with the victorious party.

And yes, there are plenty of wing-nut conservatives who engage in the same behavior when they’re on top. Plenty!

We’ve got way too many haters out there poisoning useful debate.

Folks ought to be better than that. Our public discourse on matters political would be the better for it.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.